The “Other” Event: Barbasol Championship preview

Are you tired of hearing about all of the world’s best players tearing it up across the pond? No, you’re not, and nobody really is. But that doesn’t mean that once the coverage ends in the afternoon, we can stay right on Golf Channel and watch the PGA alternate event: the Barbasol Championship. Yes, this doesn’t have the glitz and glamour, or the really cool trophy, or even any type of history (the tournament started play in 2015), but the event allows fringe PGA players to put on a show.

While there is minimal interest in this glorified Web.com event, there is plenty for these players to play for. While the World Golf Rankings and FedEx Cup points are far less than a normal PGA event, winning or playing well guarantees a spot in the RBC Canadian Open the next week (as well as the PGA exemption). Plus, the total purse is $3.5 Million, with the winner getting $630K. Not a bad payday for an event that is not very popular.

Along with a new field of players from both PGA and Web.com players, the event has a new location. For the past 3 years, the event was played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. This year, the event has moved to Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. This will be the first PGA event (excluding majors) to be played in Kentucky in over 59 years. The new course will prove to be a challenge to the players, as most, if not all of them, have spent little time playing here.

Along with many young PGA professionals out in Kentucky looking to make a name for themselves, LPGA golfer Brittany Lincicome has also come out to show her muscle. The LPGA bomber looks to run with the boys this week in Kentucky:

So even though I have been making fun of this event, it can greatly help many of these fringe top 125 players make it into the FedEx Cup playoffs. Last years winner, Grayson Murray, was able to turn this victory into qualifying for the PGA Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. Let’s hope we see the same this year and spring another young player into the PGA spotlight.